Kenyan Pros who have qualified for this year’s Magical Kenya Open pose for a photo at the end of the Windsor leg of the Safari Tour Golf Series.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Nine Kenyan players, who have qualified to play at this year’s Magical Kenya Open Golf Championship, have been named following the conclusion of the 2018/2019 Safari Tour Golf series today at the Windsor Golf Hotel and Country Club. Two players tied for eighth spot – the Safari Tour Golf Series qualifying cut-off for the Kenya Open – pushing the number of players qualifying to nine.

Muthaiga Golf Club’s Greg Snow leads the team of nine professional player having accrued a total of 113.5 points across the six Safari Tour golf series. Greg has been dominant, taking maximum points in four of the six Safari Tour events, to take top spot on the Road to Kneya Open ranking. He has featured at the Kenya Open 11 times with his best finish coming in 2014 when he finished 10^th.

He is joined by Mumias Golf Club’s Dismas Indiza who amassed 111 points after a consistent performance across the Safari Tour to finish second. Indiza has featured at the Kenya Open 19 times; with his best finish being tenth in the 2008 edition.

Windsor’s Rizwan Charania booked third spot on the Road to Kenya Open ranking having amassed a total of 79 points; with his win of the Windsor leg of the tour cementing third spot. He has played at the Kenya Open 14 times; his best finish coming in 2017.

Muthaiga Golf Club’s Greg Snow poses with the three Safari Tour Trophies he has won to leave him top of the Road to Kenya Open ranking. He leads the Kenyan contigent which has qualified for this year’s Magical Kenya

David Wakhu, who won the Nyali Golf and Country Club leg of the Sadfari Tour Golf Series, finished fourth on the Road to the Kenya Open ranking, with a total of 72 points; while the Professional Golfers of Kenya Captain, John Wangai, finished fifth with 68.5 points. He has featured at the Kenya Open on six occasions.

Thika Golf Club’s, Simon Ngige, finished sixth with 66.5 points and shall now take part at his 13^th Kenya Open tournament; while Golf Park’s Tony Omuli will be taking part at his seventh Kenya Open event having finished in seventh place on the Road to Kenya Open ranking with 53.5 points.

Meanwhile, Vet Lab Sports Club’s Nelson Simwa and Windsor’s David Opati tied for eighth with 51 points apiece to complete the list of nine Kenyan players at this year’s tournament. The Safari Tour Golf Series, which was launched in August last year, formed the qualification tournament for Kenyan players taking part this year’s Kenya Open.

The nine pros join six amateur players who have already qualified to play at this year’s Magical Kenya Open Championship; these are Daniel Nduva, Samuel Njoroge, Mike Kisia, Edwin Mudanyi, Bradley Mogire and Mutahi Kibugu.

Riz Charania poses with the Safari Tour Golf Series trophy after emerging winner of the Windsor Golf Hotel and Country Club leg of the Safari Tour series.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

Windsor Golf Hotel and Country Club’s Rizwan Charania returned a 1-under par 71 score on the final round of the Windsor Golf Hotel and Country Club leg of the Safari Tour Golf series to win the tournament with a total score of 3-under par 218.

On the first nine, he dropped shots on the par-3, fourth before quickly following it up with a birdie on the par-5, fifth. He then dropped a shot on the par-4, seventh to take hos total fot the first nine to 37; having held par on the rest of the holes.

On the back nine, he started off with a birdie on the par-4, 10^th before holing a bogey on the par-5, 12^th. He quickly remedied the situation with consecutive birdies on the par-3 13^th and the par-4, 14^th to finish the back nine with a total of 34; having held par on the rest of the holes.

Speaking after the round, Riz said: “I am delighted with this win as it is a result of the hard work which I have put into this leg of the Safari Tour golf series. It gives me a boost in confidence as we near the 2019 Magical Kenya Open Golf Championship which I look forward to participating in.”

This becomes the first Safari Tour win by Riz Charania; leaving him in a buoyant mood ahead of the Magical Kenya Open Golf Championship. For his achievement, Riz took home Sh450,000 in prize money.

On his part, Mumias Sugar’s, Dismas Indiza, returned a similar score for the round (1-under par 71) for a total tournament score of 1-under par 287 to finish second in the tournament and taking home Sh 300,000.

Riz Charania.

On the first nine, he started off with a bogey on the par-4, first before following it up with a birdie on the par-4, second. He dropped a shot on the par-5, third, but managed a birdie on the par-5, fifth for the total of 36 on the back nine; having held par on the rest of the holes.

On the back nine, he hit it off with a birdie at the par-4, 10^th but dropped shots on the par-5, 12^th and the par-4, 14^th. He followed it up with consecutive birdies on the par-5, 15^th and the par-4, 16^th for a total of 35 having held par on the rest of the holes.

Meanwhile, Muthaiga Golf Club’s, Greg Snow, who has been in fine form in previous Safari Tour tournaments, found the Windsor course tricky on the final round, to return a 1-over par 73 score; taking his total for the tournament to 3-over par 291 which was enough to secure third place at the tournament.

On the first nine, he played bogey-free while holing three birdies on the par-3, fourth, par-3, eighth and the par-4, ninth. It’s on the back nine that he found it tough; dropping five shots and picking up only one birdie for a back nine total of 40. For his efforts, Greg took home KShs 180,000.

His third-place finish at the Windsor leg of the Safari Tour Golf series saw him finish top of the Road to Kenya Open ranking with 113.5 points ahead of Dismas Indiza in second place with 111 points.

Meanwhile, Vet Lab’s Edwin Mudanyi emerged top elite amateur, taking home the tournament’s Silver Salver.